Scarborough Gym staff save life

The staff at Stirling Leisure Centre - Scarborough Gym saved a patron’s life after he presented himself to a staff member complaining of chest pain before fainting in July 2023. 

The man, who is a regular at the gym, was working out before approaching Hong Khou at the reception desk.  

“I asked him ‘Are you all right?’ and he said he didn’t feel all right, he was feeling chest pain. Then he tried to grab his keys. I asked him not to go yet, just to sit there for a while,” Hong said.  

“He was standing for not even one minute and then he started wobbling and he couldn’t stand any more, and he started choking.”  

Hong immediately caught the man before he fell and put him in the recovery position before calling for his boss. Kyle Johnstone and Gemma Cashman immediately jumped into action.  

“I was calling 000 already but then I couldn’t talk so I had to pass it to Gemma, and she called and just explained what was going on,” Hong said.  

After being alerted, Gemma and Kyle assisted the patron with a defibrillator on hand while waiting for the ambulance to arrive.  

“The guy was not really conscious; he didn’t really answer too many questions. We just stayed with him, made sure he was all right, got some ice for him, kept talking to him and made sure he was okay, and eventually the ambulance arrived, and they took it from there,” Kyle said.  

The patron was taken to hospital, where it was determined he had suffered from an aortic rupture, which can be fatal if not treated immediately.  

Thanks to the quick actions of staff, the patron made a full recovery. For their actions, Hong, Kyle and Gemma all received Bravery Commendations at the Royal Life Saving WA Bravery Awards. 

This isn’t the first time the team has had to deal with a similar situation- Hong assisted a patron the previous July who had had a stroke.  

Luckily, the team are all well versed in CPR and first aid and the team were able to assist the man while Gemma coordinated the patron’s symptoms to the ambulance.  

Such stories highlight how crucial it is to maintain such qualifications.  

When was the last time you refreshed your lifesaving skills? Ensure you're prepared- book your First Aid or CPR course today by clicking the link below.